Rain barrels are a great way to conserve water—but the humid nature of rain barrels also creates the perfect environment for algae. While a little bit of algae in your rain barrels is fine, too much algae has the potential to clog your overflow valve and your hose. Fortunately, with the right cleaning methods and storage techniques, you can prevent algae in your rain barrels.

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Rinse the barrels with diluted bleach once a year.

  1. Bleach safely disinfects your rain barrels and kills algae. If your rain barrels are very dirty or you notice a lot of algae in them, make a bleach solution using 34  c (180 mL) of bleach for every 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water. Scrub the inside of your rain barrels using the bleach solution, then rinse them out thoroughly before setting them back up again.[8]
    • Using very diluted bleach in your rain barrels won’t harm your plants or your garden, especially if you rinse your barrels out thoroughly. Diluted bleach is even used to purify drinking water in some cases, so it’s perfectly fine to use around pets, children, and plants.[9]
    • If you’re not comfortable using bleach, you can also use white vinegar. Make a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water, then use it to clean out your rain barrels as a natural disinfectant.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is algae detrimental to your pets?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, large quantities of algae can be toxic to animals if they ingest it. If you know there's algae in your rain barrels, keep them covered, and don't let your animals drink from them.
  • Question
    I use rainwater on my garden. Algae builds and stops up my drip irrigation system. What can I do to prevent this and still be safe for my garden foods?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Algae requires light to grow. Is your tubing or rainbarrel clear or light colored? Is it possible to set a planter on top of the barrel or to otherwise shield the barrel from light exposure? If you are using clear irrigation tubing, I suggest switching over to black flex tubing or solid tubing that prohibits light when replacing parts next time. In the meantime, you likely need to detach the barrel and use a bit of bleach first to kill what has grown in your system. I'd stick a few piece of old screening near the exit to catch random particles, or maybe set up a gravel/sand filtration process inside your rain barrel. After that is done, then shield the stored tankwater from all sun.
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About This Article

Scott Johnson
Co-authored by:
Landscape & Design Consultant
This article was co-authored by Scott Johnson and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Scott Johnson is the Owner and Lead Design Consultant for Concrete Creations, Inc., an award-winning landscape and design company based in the San Diego, California metro area. He has over 30 years of experience in the pool and landscape construction industry and specializes in large estate outdoor environment construction projects. His work has been featured in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine and on Pool Kings TV Show. He earned a BS degree in Construction Management with an emphasis in Architecture and CAD design from Northern Arizona University. This article has been viewed 40,505 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: November 4, 2022
Views: 40,505
Categories: Water Conservation
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